Fighting for Banking in Ebbw Vale: Turning a Branch Closure into a Proper Local Solution

Fighting for Banking in Ebbw Vale: Turning a Branch Closure into a Proper Local Solution

Ebbw Vale has been hit with more bad news: Lloyds has told me it plans to close its branch in the town on 15 March 2027. That matters because this is the last bank branch in Ebbw Vale. Losing it would leave many residents—especially older people, those without reliable digital access, and local businesses that still handle cash—without proper face-to-face banking on our high street.

Yes, Lloyds says people are “increasingly choosing mobile banking”. Some are. But plenty aren’t—and they shouldn’t be forced into an app-only system because it suits a head office spreadsheet rather than the reality on the ground in Blaenau Gwent.

The key update: a Banking Hub has now been confirmed for Ebbw Vale (2027)

There is, however, an important development. Blaenau Gwent Council has publicly shared that Cash Access UK has confirmed a new Banking Hub will open in Ebbw Vale in 2027—and that it is expected to open before the Lloyds branch closure.

The Council’s update also sets out what a Banking Hub should provide:

• Counter services Monday to Friday for essential transactions (withdrawals, deposits, bill payments) for customers of major banks.

• A “community banker” service—where you can speak face-to-face with your own bank on the day they are in the hub.

That’s the sort of practical, shared solution that can keep services in the town—if it’s delivered properly and on time.

The building matters too—and it gives us leverage

Another important point: the building Lloyds currently sits in is now being obtained by the Council as of 23 January 2026. That matters because it gives the town a fighting chance of keeping a banking presence in the right place—central, accessible, and suitable for the services people actually need.

Negotiations: a hub that serves the whole community, not a token gesture

I’ve been clear from the start: a “once-a-week” visit isn't enough to replace the last bank in town. That’s why we are in negotiations around a Banking Hub that serves the community properly, including ensuring multiple banks can be represented in the town, not just one.

This approach isn’t pie-in-the-sky—it has been a success in Abertillery, and the model can work when it’s set up with the right opening hours, the right services, and a clear timetable.

My view: services must work for residents—not bureaucracies or boardrooms

As your local councillor, my approach is simple: services should work for local people, not be stripped back year after year while we’re told to “go online” and get on with it. Access to cash and face-to-face banking is not an optional extra—it’s part of a functioning town centre and a fair deal for residents.

If we want Ebbw Vale to grow—supporting small businesses, keeping footfall on the high street, and helping people manage their money safely—then we have to stop accepting managed decline as inevitable.

What I’m doing next

• Pressing for a firm opening date and confirmed location for the Banking Hub (not “in due course”).

• Pushing for a guarantee of no service gap between Lloyds closing and the hub opening.

• Making sure the hub model genuinely meets local need—including support for vulnerable residents and reliable access for small businesses.

• Gathering real resident and business experiences to strengthen the case for the right service in the right place.

What residents can do

• If this closure would affect you (or your business), please message me with a short summary: how you bank now, what you need in-person, and what would be lost if the branch goes.

• If you rely on face-to-face banking, say so—decision-makers need to hear it in plain terms.

I’ll keep this updated as we get the hub’s location and confirmed opening date.

Cllr Jonathan Millard
Ebbw Vale South – Reform UK